Written Answers Friday 7 January 2011

Scottish Executive

Local Authorities

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities are required or recommended to keep a permanent written minute of (a) board, (b) committee and (c) sub-committee meetings containing details of (i) attendees, (ii) duration and (iii) matters discussed

John Swinney: Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 sets out the provisions relating to meetings and proceedings of local authorities. Under the provisions of this Schedule, local authorities are required, for example, to record the names of members present at a meeting of a council and also to draw up minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of a council. Section 50C of the Act further states that minutes of meetings shall be open to public inspection for a period of six years from the date of the meeting.

Scottish Government Staff

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its employees were unable to get to work between 29 November and 8 December 2010.

John Swinney: The number of Scottish Executive staff working in core directorates, who were unable to get to work between 29 November and 8 December 2010 was as follows:

  

Date
Numbers


Monday 29 November*
19


Tues 30 November
675


Wednesday 1 December
731


Thursday 2 December
546


Friday 3 December
409


Monday 6 December
641


Tuesday 7 December
495


Wednesday 8 December
247



  Note: *Privilege holiday for most Scottish Government employees.

Unemployment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were claiming unemployment-related benefits in Dundee at the latest date for which information is available, broken down by 2003 Census Area Statistics ward.

John Swinney: The claimant count is a measure of those claiming unemployment related benefits in Scotland. Table 1 gives the claimant count for Dundee City, broken down by 2003 Census Area Statistics ward.

  Table 1: Claimant Count in Each Dundee City Council Ward, November 2010

  

Area
Total Claimants


Dundee City Council
4,858


Ardler
147


Balgay
110


Balgillo
81


Balgowan
198


Barnhill
59


Baxter Park
169


Bowbridge
207


Brackens
163


Broughty Ferry
61


Camperdown
232


Claverhouse
137


Craigiebank
101


Douglas
264


East Port
243


Fairmuir
165


Hilltown
240


Law
225


Lochee East
168


Lochee West
222


Logie
153


Longhaugh
310


Ninewells
168


Pitkerro
298


Riverside
50


Stobswell
262


Strathmartine
112


Tay Bridges
163


West Ferry
30


Whitfield
160